Discussed... In 1763, the British issued the Proclamation of 1763. The proclamation tried to protect the Indians from further encroachments by the settlers. It said “And whereas great Frauds and Abuses have been committed in purchasing Lands of the Indians, to the great Prejudice of our Interests and to the great dissatisfaction of the said Indians.”

The second British action was to pass the Revenue Act of 1764, otherwise known in the colonies as “The Sugar Act”. The Sugar Act actually lowered the tax on molasses, a key import of the colonies. The previous tax was seldom enforced. The new act provided strong methods of enforcing the tariff on molasses. It also placed a tax on the importation of additional items, such as silks, wines and potash. The American colonists responded with outrage to the new law. They took whatever actions they could to ignore defy the new laws.The Stamp Act is Implemented

Notes: 1) The Proclamation of 1763 outlawed the purchase of land from the Indians, unless the land was licensed by the British. The proclamation established a western boundary for colonial settlement, along the Appalachian Mountains. To the west the lands were reserved for the Indians.

2) The Colonists responded to the proclamation with a combination of anger and disdain. They were angry with the government for interfering and trying to limit their economic growth. They had disdain for the government, since in their view, there was little chance this proclamation could be enforced. The Colonists felt there was no way any proclamation could stop the natural movement of the Colonists westward.

3) The Sugar Act (1st part only) provided strong methods of enforcing the tariff on molasses. It also placed a tax on the importation of additional items, such as silks, wines and potash. The American colonists responded with outrage to the new law. They took whatever actions they could to ignore defy the new laws. Often with the blatant help of colonial officials, molasses and other goods would be smuggled into the colonies without paying the required taxes.

You can tell by this cartoon that the Stamp Act was not very popular in the Colonies.

Wednesday, January 31st:The STAMP ACT and QUARTERING ACT

What We are Doing:

Discussed the Stamp Act (1765) The stamp tax was a tax that was imposed on every document or newspaper printed or used in the colonies. The taxes ranged from one shilling a newspaper to ten pounds for a lawyers license, Everything a colonist needed was taxed. The income was to be directed to pay the cost of defending the colonies.The colonist particulary objected to the fact that violation of the taxes would be prosecuted by in Admiralty Courts and not by jury trials. The tax was approved with no debate.

The colonies responded with outrage. It was considered a "shocking act". The colonist considered the act unconstitutional, a tax had been imposed and they had not been consulted. They had no need to heed the taxes. The Virginia House of Burgesses was nearing the end of its session when word of the Stamp Act reached it. A young delegate named Patrick Henry introduced a Resolution which stated that: "That the general assembly of the colony, together with his majesty or his substitute have in their representative capacity the only exclusive right and power to levy taxes and impositions on the inhabitants of this colony and that every attempt to vest such a power in any person or persons whatsoever other than the general assembly aforesaid is illegal, unconstitutional, and unjust, and has a manifest tendency to destroy British, as well as American freedom." This was the beginning of a united colonial opposition to the British Act.

Discussed The Quartering Act (1765):The act forced American colonist to house and feed British forces who were serving in North America. The act further inflamed tensions between the colonist and the British. The colonist were angered at having their homes forced open. The subsequent close contact with British soldiers did not engender good feelings between the sides.

Colonists, many of them anyway, agreed not to import British goods, especially luxury products. The Non-importation agreement slowly grew to include merchants in all of the colonies, with the exception of New Hampshire. Within a year importation from Britain dropped almost in half.

Colonists were so upset that they resorted to acts of terrorism. Tarring and Feathering was an incredibly cruel punishment that the colonists sometimes used on British agents that they hated.

MORE BRITISH SOLIDERS SENT TO BOSTON

In response to colonial protest and increasing attacks on colonial officials by the Sons of Liberty”, Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the Colonies, dispatched two regiments-(4,000 troops), to restore order in Boston. The daily contact between British soldiers and colonists served to worsen relations.

Fill out the sheets attached below using Ghostwriter or another app of your choice.

Five colonists were killed by British Troops in Boston on March 5th 1770. The event was precipitated by taunts against British soldiers in Boston. The British responded with force and fired their muskets at the Americans, killing 3 instantly and wounding 11. Two of the wounded soon died. The death of the colonists, in what became known as the Boston Massacre, inflamed American opinion against the British and was one of the most significant events leading up to the Revolution.

From the moment the British decided to send troops to Boston it was only a matter of time before British troops were likely to clash with the colonists. That day came on March 5th 1770. In that early evening a British sentry was guarding the custom house on King Street, (what is today “State Street” in downtown Boston.) Colonists began to taunt the sentry. Soon a crowd grew. With the crowd growing, the Officer of the Day, Captain Thomas Preston, ordered seven or eight soldiers under his command to support the sentry. Preston soon followed. By the time the additional troops arrived the crowd had grown to between 300 and 400 hundred men. The ever-growing crowd continued to taunt the British soldiers whose muskets were loaded. The crowd then began pelting the sentries with snowballs.

A colonist knocked one of the soldiers down. As the soldier got up, he fired his musket, and then yelled “Damm you, fire”. There was a pause and then the British soldiers fired on the colonists. Three Americans-- rope maker Samuel Gray, mariner James Caldwell, and an African American sailor named Crispus Attucks died instantly. Samuel Maverick, struck by a ricocheting musket ball at the back of the crowd, died a few hours later in the early morning of the next day. Thirty-year-old Irish immigrant Patrick Carr died two weeks later.

This event quickly became known as “the Boston Massacre”. Thanks to the efforts of Boston engraver, Paul Revere, who copied a drawing made by Henry Pelham, the illustration of the above events soon made its way throughout the colonies. The illustration stirred the anger of Americans towards the British. Captain Preston and four of his men were arrested and charged with manslaughter.

The British parliament repeased the Townshend duties on all but tea. Falling colonial imports and raising opposition convinced the British government that its policies were not working. The British government, led by Prime Minister Lord North, maintained the taxes on tea, in order to underscore the supremacy of parliament.

Colonist Burn Revenue Cutter Gaspee 1772

On the afternoon of June 9th, 1772 the British revenue schooner the Gaspee ran aground, south of Providence, Rhode Island. That night eight boatloads of men led Captain Whipple attacked the ship and set her on fire.

The Gaspee was a hated British revenue schooner. On June 9, 1772 Captain Thomas Lindsay commanded the Hannah set forth from Newport to Providence. He was afraid he would be stopped by the hated Gaspee comanded by Lietenant William Dudinsgston, and vowed not to let the Gaspee stop her. Lindsay lured the Gaspee into following him into shallow waters and the Gaspee ran aground. When news that the hated Gaspee had run aground galvanized Americans to act . A groupd of 60 men led by Captain Whipple set off to were the Gaspee was located. When they arrived they overwhelmed the small crew, forced it and its captain to surrender. The then set the ship afire.

Boston Tea Party 1773

Protests in the colonies against the Stamp Acts had died down when Parliament passed the Tea Act. The new act granted a monopoly on tea trade in the Americas to the East India Tea Company.

The Governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson, insisted that tea be unloaded in Boston, despite a boycott organized by the Sons of Liberty.

On the evening of December 16th, thousands of Bostonians and farmers from the surrounding countryside packed into the Old South Meeting house to hear Samuel Adams. Adams denounced the Governor for denying clearance for vessels wishing to leave with tea still on board. After his speech the crowd headed for the waterfront. From the crowd, 50 individuals emerged dressed as Indians. They boarded three vessels docked in the harbor and threw 90,000 pounds of tea overboard.

The British were shocked by the destruction of the tea in Boston Harbor and other colonial protests. To the British, the colonial actions were clearly undermining their authortiy in the colonies, which had to be maintained at all costs. The British parliament gave its speedy assent to a series of acts that became known as the “Coercive Acts”; or in the colonies as the “Intolerable Acts”. These acts included the closing of the port of Boston, until such time as the East India tea company received compensation for the tea dumped into the harbor. The Royal governor took control over the Massachusetts government and would appoint all officials. Sheriffs would become royal appointees, as would juries. In addition, the British took the right to quarter soldiers anywhere in the colonies. The Coercive Acts succeeded in uniting the colonies to take action against the Crown. The immediate result was the Continental Congress.

The task of the first Continental Congress was to define the relationship between the Colonists and the British government, in light of the “Coercive Acts” passed by the British Parliament. Colonists were united in their belief that the British had no right to tax them. They felt the only power the British should be entitled to was some form of regulation of trade. The Continental Congress debated various ideas for a new union with Great Britain, but ultimately concentrated on fighting British actions. They reached an agreement to stop all trade with Britain, until the Coercive Acts were repealed. The Congress voted that all Americans would stop drinking tea from the East India Company. The Congress did not, however, agree to demands of some of the more radical members who insisted upon the immediate formation of a Continental army.

Patrick Henry rallied the Revolutionary cause.

Tuesday, January 14thPatrick Henry's Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

What We are Doing:

A primary source of history is a "piece of history from that time." We discussed how it is important that people be able to research the actual documents, etc of the time period to get a better understanding.

In 1775, Patrick Henry recited his famous "Give me liberty or give me death," speech. It rallied support for Revolution throughout the colonies. We also discussed "the pen is mightier than the sword, and what this means.

FIRST OF ALL...we need to review and become experts on the causes of the American Revolution. We are going to make keynotes on each of the Acts, Proclamations, and Laws that angered the colonists, and when combined, caused them to revolts. When we get that caught up, we'll move on with the material below.

PATRICK HENRY GAVE AN IMPASSIONED SPEECH TO THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF BURGESSES THAT, MORE THAN ANYTHING, CAUSED AMERICANS TO GRAB ARMS AND FIGHT THE BRITISH. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ENTIRE SPEECH.

1) We finished highlighting the article on Howe... yellow highlights are somethings he did well for the British, green highlight used for bad things he did for his nation, while pink is both good or bad.

2) We'll accuse him of losing the American Revolution for the British.

4) We will be in groups of four (ideally)... 1) Howe, 2) Defense Attorney, 3) Prosecutor, 4) Judge. The trials will be on Monday.

Monday, February 10th TThe Trial of Sir William Howe

We are going to finish up the trial of William Howe today and see if he deserves to be 'convicted' for losing the Revolutionary War for the British...here are the notes from Thursday...

1) We finished highlighting the article on Howe... yellow highlights are somethings he did well for the British, green highlight used for bad things he did for his nation, while pink is both good or bad.

2) We'll accuse him of losing the American Revolution for the British.

Tuesday, March 11th:Study Day, Writing Day• Several students will be gone to the Choir competitions. Those that are left will have a chance to study for tomorrow's exam and/or work on their District Writings, due Thursday.

DISTRICT WRITING ASSIGNED: Each student will be given a battle to research. The 'formula' for the paper is as follows...

THE FINAL AMERICAN REVOLUTION EXAM IS ON Wednesday, March 12th... District Writing on your battle is due Thursday, March 13th.

Scene 3: The French and Indian War

French Woman: Bon jour!
Not only did people from England come to the New World,
but also people from France.

French Man: Hey, what’s this!
The English colonists are building forts on our land!
This is our land and we’ll defend it!

Washington: Hi, I am George Washington.
The King sent me here to talk with the French
about these land disputes.
Can’t we settle this peacefully?

French: Get off our land! We don’t want you here!

Washington: Oh well, …Attack!

French: Help us! Help us!

Native American:We will join you in the fight against the British.

The Native Americans joined the French.
They decided to help the French because they didn’t want the British colonists moving west and taking over their land.
This became known as the French and Indian War.

Washington: Send word to our King that we need more troops!

_ King George did send more troops and they eventually won the war.
In 1763, France and Great Britain agreed to have peace.

_____________ In the beginning, the colonists liked having British help and protection.
Yet, as time went on, the colonists grew tired of following British rules.
Act 3: The Road to Revolution

Scene 1: Taxes

Jester: I present to you, King George III of Great Britain!

King George: Thank you! Thank you!
Oh jester! Bring me my gold!

Jester walks with his head down and hands over a bag of gold.

What! Just one bag of gold!
Where is all my money!

Jester: Oh, great King! The war with the French and Indians cost us a lot of money!
We are almost in debt!

King: What! This won’t do! This won’t do at all!
Oh what can we do!

Jester: How about we make the colonists pay taxes?

King: I know, we’ll make the colonists pay taxes!

Jester: Brilliant idea, King!

King: Thank you! Thank you!
Now what shall we tax them on?

Jester: Perhaps we could tax their sugar and their tea?

King: I know, we’ll tax their sugar and their tea!

Jester: Brilliant idea, King!

King: Oh this will be wonderful!

Jester: Do you think the colonists will be upset?

King: Oh rubbish! They won’t mind at all! (walks off stage)

Jester (to the crowd): I’m not too sure about that!

Scene 2: Taxation Without Representation

John Adams: Oh Patrick Henry, can you believe these taxes!

Patrick Henry: I know, John Adams, it is just unfair!

John Adams: Aren’t we already paying taxes to our own colonies?
Now they want us to pay more taxes?
We are not represented in the British Parliament.

Patrick Henry: And taxation without representation is not fair!

John Adams: The King will not even let us make our own rules!

Patrick Henry: We must unite our colonies!
We must boycott buying any British goods!
Give me liberty or give me death!

Scene 3: The Boston Massacre 1770

Boy: Hey Redcoat! Hey Redcoat!
Look at the Lobsterback!
Look at the lobsterback!

Redcoat: Hey! Knock that off!

(He pushes the girl to the ground.
An angry crowd surround the soldier.)

Crispus : Hey! What do you think you’re doing! He’s just a boy!

Woman: You’re a bad, bad man!

(The crowd begins to throw rocks at the soldier.)

Redcoat: Help! Help!
(Other redcoats come to help him.)

Crispus: You coward! You dare not fire!
You can’t kill us all!

Redcoat: Fire!

Crispus Attucks and several others fall to the ground.

Woman: Crispus! Oh Crispus Attucks!
You killed him!
You killed him!

Girl: Oh, what a massacre!

Scene 4: Back in Britain:

Jester: Oh, King George!
The colonists seem a wee bit upset about those taxes of yours!

King: What did you say!

Jester: Umm…well…they think that if they’re going to be taxed,
they should have a voice in our Parliament.

King: What! How dare they demand rights for themselves!
Their duty is to the King!
Well, how upset are they?

Jester: Well…umm…you see…there was this fight.
Well, actually they’re calling it a “massacre”.
British soldiers shot at an angry mob and 5 colonists died.

King: Oh my, well, that is bad.
Well, I don’t want to seem like a bad guy.
We’ll stop all their taxes, all except one –
the Tea Tax –
I do love my tea!

Jester: Tea Time!

King: Oh wonderful!
Scene 5: The Boston Tea Party –1773

Sam Adams: Welcome, Paul Revere!
Have you heard about the Tea Tax?

Paul Revere: Yes, Sam Adams.
We won’t drink any of their tea!

Sam Adams: I have a better idea!
Let’s get rid of it!
There’s a ship that’s coming in that’s loaded with tea.
We’ll sneak on the ship and dump the tea overboard!